- Department:(Dept. 5) Evolutionary and Integrative Ecology
Flagship individuals in biodiversity conservation
This study extends the concept of flagship species to include individual organisms, who can garner public attention and attract conservation support. Flagship individuals typically share a similar suite of characteristics, including: (1) charismatic species-level traits; (2) unique or distinctive individual traits; (3) a high degree of exposure to humans; and (4) a noteworthy life history or fate.
Long-term data reveal contrasting impacts of native versus invasive nest predators in Iceland
The authors used unusual Citizen Science data from several decades to show that the American mink has decimated the native eider duck in the Brokey archipelago by about 60 %. In another Icelandic landscape, the return of the native Arctic fox had no discernible impact on the eider population - presumably due to the common evolutionary history in which the eiders have developed defence strategies.
![People_and_Nature People_and_Nature](/system/files/image/People_and_Nature.jpg)
Identifying potential emerging invasive non-native species from the freshwater pet trade
The authors have identified the most important risk species among aquatic pets for Germany and developed a three-step risk assessment method that can serve as a screening tool and as a basis for legislation to restrict future releases of unwanted animals. This is essential, as the study also shows that 97 per cent of the freshwater species sold in Germany are not native.
Patterns and drivers of climatic niche dynamics during biological invasions of island-endemic amphibians, reptiles, and birds
Looking at insular amphibians, reptiles and birds across the world, the authors investigated mismatches between native and non-native climatic niches and how these mismatches can be explained. The results show that climatic mismatches are common for non-native birds and reptiles, but rare for amphibians, and that several factors are significantly related to these mismatches.
![Environmental_Science_Europe Environmental_Science_Europe](/system/files/image/Environmental_Science_Europe.jpg)
Potential for high toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to the European Daphnia longispina
Until now, the toxicity assessment of microplastics in the environment relied on the model organism Daphnia magna for evaluating potential hazards to aquatic invertebrates. However, other Daphnia species are primarily found in Northern Hemisphere lakes, most notably Daphnia longispina. The current study reveals that Daphnia longispina can be more sensitive to microplastics than Daphnia magna.
![Biological_Reviews Biological_Reviews](/system/files/image/brv.v97_.5.cover_.jpg)
Hypotheses in urban ecology: building acommon knowledge base
This study identified 62 research hypotheses used in urban ecology and mapped them in a conceptual network. It is the first such network, which also clusters urban ecology hypotheses into four distinct themes: (i) Urban species traits & evolution, (ii) Urban biotic communities, (iii) Urban habitats and (iv) Urban ecosystems.
Impact of the Russia–Ukraine armed conflict on water resources and water infrastructure
The ongoing war in Ukraine is having multiple impacts on the country’s water sector. In addition to the horror of the direct consequences of war, the destruction of water infrastructure also carries long-term consequences and risks for the population, the environment and global food security.
Flow dynamics in rivers with riffle-pool morphology: a dataset from case studies and field experiments
Riffle-pool sequences provide vital ecological services to aquatic organisms and are considered fundamental habitats in fluvial ecosystems. Little is known about riffle-pool hydrodynamics. The study presents a dataset on turbulent flow structure in riffle-pool sequences of a natural river, the Tagliamento River in Italy.
Transience of public attention in conservation science
This article addresses the concept of attention transience applied to conservation, discusses its major drivers and mechanisms, and provides an overview of conservation issues for which this phenomenon is particularly relevant. Attention transience only leaves a brief window of opportunity to focus public awareness and mobilize support for nature conservation.
A meta-analysis of how parasites affect host consumption rates
This meta-analysis investigated how parasites affect the consumption rate of their hosts. It is the first comprehensive overview of parasite effects on host feeding capacity and sheds light on the factors contributing to the observed differences.